Ostrowski transitions from football to basketball

Miah Ostrowski is supposed to be a quick transition player, and he proved it on the final day of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic.

Ostrowski made his debut for the Hawaii basketball team in the Warriors’ 68-57 victory over Mississippi State on Christmas Day at the Stan Sheriff Center.

The former Punahou School standout did not score and played just two minutes in the game as a reserve. But the fact that he was even able to put on a basketball jersey and log time in a NCAA Division I game was a feat in itself.

Less than 24 hours before his UH basketball debut, Ostrowski was playing in the season finale for the UH football team. He is a receiver for the football Warriors, and caught two passes for 72 yards in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl at Aloha Stadium.

“That was something I wasn’t expecting to get – much playing time,” Ostrowski said of his surprising basketball debut. “I hurt my shoulder yesterday in the (football) game … so I wasn’t expecting to play at all.”

What’s more, Ostrowski has yet to complete a full practice with the UH basketball team. He agreed to join the basketball team earlier this month, but said his primary focus would be with the football team until after the Hawaii Bowl.

“Miah doesn’t know one of our offensive sets, doesn’t know our calls, he knows our motion a little bit just because he’s a basketball player,” Hawaii head coach Gib Arnold said. “I just wanted to get him out there to realize ‘hey, Miah, you’re playing for us. We’re going to need you.’ And I wanted to give him a little bit of minutes so he could kind of feel comfortable heading into WAC.”

With the football season over, Ostrowski said he will be able to concentrate on basketball for the next three months.

“Yup, gotta get back into it,” said Ostrowski, whose last extensive action on the basketball court came during his senior season at Punahou in 2007. “I’m excited. I was only out there a little bit, but it felt good just to be on the court again.”

Ostrowski, who is listed at 5 feet 9, is expected to provide back-up depth at point guard. He has already been told that he will travel with the team on the upcoming road trip to Utah State and Nevada.

Great post! Go Miah! Gib is taking a shot with this kid and it’s a long shot with a kid that’s 5′-9″ tall. He may have never gotten the chance if he and coach didn’t share hs alum status. I hope to see this work out; for coach; for Miah; and for all the Hawaii fans who’ve been waiting to watch a homegrown baller at the Division 1 level.

Leroy Lutu Jr., anyone? He got some quality minutes as a non-scholarship player on the basketball team last year, so might be a good addition to this year’s undermanned team. But I do not know the circumstances in which he decided to walk-on to football, or whether he would want to return to the basketball team or if he even would be invited. Aside from that, I’m so very proud of the effort and passion the Bows put into each and every game. Congrats to each player and coach!

The shoulder injury is unfortunate. I read somewhere (I think in the Star-Advertiser) that it’s a partially torn rotator cuff, so it won’t just heal up in a couple of days. Hopefully with treatment and therapy it won’t bother Miah too much as he gets up to speed on the court.